WoodsWork Youth Plan Summer Builds in NC

Early this summer, 120 high school students accompanied by 40 adults from Anne Arundel County will volunteer to construct four homes in five days with the Union County Habitat for Humanity affiliate in North Carolina, according to a news announcement.

Known as WoodsWork, the planning team is made up of 14 high school youth and three adults from Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park. The team works all year to put the summer mission trip together.

Earlier this month, the team traveled to North Carolina on a pre-trip to gather first-hand information. Visits to building sites, a school which will serve as “home” for nine days, laundromats, churches, someplace fun to spend a day off, and a chance to meet the families for whom they will be building.

Here's what area youth participating in WoodWork said about their experience in the news announcement:

“WoodsWork has hugely impacted my life. It has developed me as a leader, offered me a community I know I can trust, and most importantly shown me how a group of kids can put their heads together and truly put their faith to action accomplishing something great. It’s powerful,” said Warren Klug, WoodsWork senior co-chairman.

 “WoodsWork is an awesome experience. The unification of 120 youth from different schools and different groups of friends are able to come together and accomplish something amazing. This trip has reminded me that there are still good people that do good things in this world,”  Klug said.

“When you are able to see the direct opportunity to help turn someone’s life around 180 degrees, it can easily be a transforming moment in your own life,” said Jake Kerrigan, WoodsWork Junior Co-Chair.

To learn more about WoodsWork, visit: www.woodschurch.org/ww 

About WoodsWork

WoodsWork began 28 years ago when 10 ninth grade confirmation students of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church wanted to put their faith into action. Today, the trip is planned and led by a committee of fourteen senior high youth and three adult advisors.

Each year WoodsWork takes about 120 high youth and 42 adults and works with a different Habitat for Humanity affiliate to build homes for families in need, according to the news announcement.

Submitted to Patch by Warren Klug and Jake Kerrigan, WoodsWork co-chairs.